From the water
We are entering the Amstel river, and this is the only natural flowing river in town. All eighty eight canals were made by people. Here there are more than fifty kinds of fish, and the city indicates the water as drinkable. Back in the day, Amstel and Heineken beer were made from this water, so it might taste a bit like beer. Basically this river gave life to the city. In the beginning there were only two dams on the Amstel river and a few houses on Dam Square, and now, seven hundred years later, we can enjoy the beauty around us. The first name of the city was Amstelerdam.
The story behind it
The city owes its name to this river: around 1270 a dam was built in the Amstel, and the settlement that grew around it became “Amstelredamme”. That dam was located where Dam Square is today.
The Amstel is the widest waterway in the centre, lined with grand buildings, houseboats and bridges. In summer it is full of rowers and small boats, and in winter the illuminated bridges are reflected in its dark water.
On your cruise
This is stop 13 of 23 on the Friendship route. Before this you passed Waterloo Square, and the boat continues towards The Gentlemen's Canal. Your skipper will point it out as you pass — keep your camera ready, because from the water you see details that are easily missed from the street.
Want to see it in person? All our cruises follow the heart of this route, and with a private cruise you can even ask your skipper to linger a little longer at your favourite spots.
